2005 ICMA Annual Conference Local Government Blogs Presented by Scott Neal, City Manager September 26, 2005 Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA
Definitions Blog – “Web Log” Post Host RSS
Facts about my blog “Blog from City Hall” Started March 2003 469 Individual posts as of September 22, 2005 Blogger.com 3,000 subscribers; readers in 70 different countries on 6 or 7 continents
Facts about my blog Profiled in Public Management, Governing and Public CIO magazines; newspapers in Minneapolis-St. Paul; Atlanta; Indianapolis; Charleston, SC; Nattick, MA; and Scunthorpe, North Lincolnshire, UK; and a BBC special report on the future of e-democracy in Great Britain.
Why do I blog? Educate Promote Enhance Praise Empathy Personalize
Why do I blog? Educate – City Services
Why do I blog? Educate – Public Policy (national)
Why do I blog? Educate – Public Policy (state)
Why do I blog? Educate – Public Policy (city)
Why do I blog? Promote – Community Organizations
Why do I blog? Promote – Businesses
Why do I blog? Promote – City of Eden Prairie
Why do I blog? Promote – Blog
Why do I blog? Enhance – Citizen’s understanding of local government
Why do I blog? Praise – Employees
Why do I blog? Praise – Employees
Why do I blog? Praise – Elected Officials
Why do I blog? Praise – Local Citizens
Why do I blog? Empathy – For local government, elected officials, and appointed officials
Why do I blog? Empathy – For local government, elected officials, and appointed officials
Why do I blog? Personalize – “Putting the face on the faceless bureaucrat”
Why do I blog? Personalize – “Putting the face on the faceless bureaucrat”
Why do I blog? Personalize – “Putting the face on the faceless bureaucrat”
Why do I blog? Personalize – “Putting the face on the faceless bureaucrat”
Benefits of the blog Additional element to your organization’s communication strategy Personal touch Adds transparency – internally and externally Leverages my time Connects employees with City government Adds acclaim for our organization
What do you need to do a blog? Computer and internet service Observation skills Writing skills Personality Motivation Time Digital camera
Issues to consider Who will blog within your organization? Who owns the blog? Will you allow open comments from readers? Will you share personal information? How will you promote the blog? Will you change posts? Will you archive?
My insights Biggest surprises . . . Biggest disappointment . . . Most common comments . . . Most common questions . . .
Scott’s Seven Iron Laws of Blogging Have the right motivation If your motivations are pure, the politics of the blog are good Write what you know Citizens are interested in the little things Be honest You may have to eat those words someday Be authentic Keep professional communications experts away from your blog Look for topics They are all around you Use photographs They really are worth 1,000 words Think with the end in mind
Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA Thank you! Scott H. Neal City Manager Eden Prairie, Minnesota, USA